Phantom into Ghost

[Jeffrey Goff]

Inspired by Armorteks armoured car, I thought I would have a go at modifying a 30 year old part kit in 1/8th scale, this was of a later Phantom but Rolls used the same chassis, I changed the engine to side valve, made the cantilever springs and a start made on the radiator armour, the rest of the armoured body will be made from 1mm mild steel, the great thing about modelling is how much you learn, I knew nothing about early Rolls Royce, I now know more than I did

regards Jeff

[Robert Reid]

Very nice!

A bit of Rolls-Royce trivia... was that c. 1924/25 when the company began to design the replacement for the Silver Ghost, they code-named the car/chassis that would become the Phantom the "Eastern Armoured Car" project. They didn't want to freeze-out sales of the Ghost as people waited for a new model. So they continued to claim that the Ghost was not going to be replaced. And all that 'other stuff' that people were seeing was a military design, not a 'civilian' vehicle. So anyone who saw the chassis or Phantom Overhead Valve parts around the works was simply told that "Oh, that... yes that's a military vehicle we are building for an Indian Potentate.... Nothing to see here, move along, move along... " Now can I interest you in a Ghost or a 20 Horsepower?

But back to your model... that's a beautiful job on the conversion! IIRC there were some Phantom chassis that were converted for use in India. No Phantom 2, but certainly Phantom 1. The chassis from Ghost to P1 were almost identical. A P1 was basically an OHV Ghost. But the chassis were very different from P1 to P2. That said, you have done a phenomenal job with converting the P2 semi-elliptic springs to cantilever rear springs and your engine is lovely! I had never thought of converting what I assume is a Pocher kit? into a Ghost armored car. It's brilliant! Nicely done.

Cheers,

RPR

[Jeffrey Goff]

Thanks Robert, yes it was an old Pocher kit, I had to make both the front and rear leaf springs, used heat shrink on the front to simulate the covering
Regards Jeff

[simon_manning]

geoff,, i thought that was a real car, is it a model, i am getting older, regards simon.

[Jeffrey Goff]

Hi Simon good to hear from you hope you are well, I had a couple of part built 1/8th scale Pocher k72 kits they are like airfix on steroids, over 2000 parts in metal and plastic with fully operating engines and brake systems, but that is why they end up being abandoned, I have only used the chassis, wheels and radiator the rest is scratch built
Regards Jeff

[Jeffrey Goff]

well after a 3 weeks of decorating I am back to modelling, seeing things after a break I changed a few things, new rear bulk head to engine bay, and replaced the central stretcher with one on each side, armoured engine bay completed with working hinges and wingnuts, the wingnuts were a challenge, hard enough to see let alone to hold, main body and turret next

regards Jeff

[simon_manning]

excellent as ever jeff, i never know with your builds if i am looking at the real thing, i am going to throw my crane in the bin after seeing this, great to see you posting again, regards simon.

[Jeffrey Goff]

the problem of using photos to create a model is that it only shows the finished item and not how to achieve your goal, I could not work out how the armoured body attached to the chassis until I saw a speeded up video of James Black restorations, restoring ... Sliabh na mBan a 1920 pattern Rolls Royce armoured car, then all become clear, I had to remake the engine bay sides and the rear bulk head, the armoured body is made as a separate item and fixed to the chassis as a whole unit, the only fiddly bit was forming the angle around the inside curve that the roof bolts to, now that things fit together I can cut the openings for turret and rear doors

regards Jeff

[simon_manning]

that skill comes from all those helmets you've restored, regards simon.

[Jeffrey Goff]

Hi Simon, yes you are correct, I did not want individual angle brackets but a continual one as the original, a skill learnt edging dragoon helmets
Regards Jeff

[Robert Reid]

Very nice work, but you may need to account for doors in the back of the turret. They come to a point.

If you want, I can send you a ton of pictures and images.

One book I highly recommend for builders of the Armoured car is the "Haynes" Rolls-Royce Armoured Car model. Inexpensive and very good, with great photos. There are a lot of small errors in the book, known only to those of us who work inside the engines. But for the general arrangements of armour and design, it is a first rate booK!

Let me know and I am glad to help!

RPR

[Jeffrey Goff]

Hi Robert,I would be most grateful for some help now that the main elements are coming together, I have to cut the opening for the rear doors and I know they come to a point, what I am not sure about is if all the 1914 pattern had the triangular roof over the doors, most of the pictures taken at the time were of the front of the vehicle, the other area I am unsure of is the rear behind the armoured compartment, the books say this was made from wood to keep the weight down, do you know if the sections from the rear of the running boards up and over the rear wheels were steel or wood

regards Jeff

[Jeffrey Goff]

well after another break I have made some progress on the build, the thing holding me up is the lack of any detailed plans, so working from period photos, I am trying to build as prototypical as I can, this has the advantage to show mistakes as the build progresses, turret needs to be roofed and split rear doors made after I have finished the wood floor so I can determine their height.

regards Jeff

[Robert Reid]

Hi Jeff:

I'll get you some pictures over the weekend.

There are some plan sets available, I think. The Tank Museum at Bovington may have some. And there are a couple of (inexpensive) books that have great plan and elevation views of the 1914!

I am very sorry I missed your earlier post... and am only just responding now. But I'll post a bunch of stuff here this weekend for you!

Cheers,

RPR

[Jeffrey Goff]

Thanks Robert, that would be great, the areas I am unsure of now are the structures at the rear, whether it is all wood, or are there metal plates protecting the fuel tank
Regards Jeff